iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Use Jumbo 5,500 mAh Battery
JAKARTA - Apple is rumored to be bringing a significant improvement to the battery life of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which will be launched in September 2026. However, the improvement is said to come with unavoidable consequences: the device becomes slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor.
The latest leak says the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a battery with a capacity of around 5,500 mAh, up from the 5,088 mAh used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If this information is accurate, users have the potential to get an increase in battery life of up to almost 10 percent.
The information comes from technology leaker Ice Universe who claims Apple will increase the battery capacity of the iPhone 18 Pro Max to around 5,500 mAh. The capacity is about 412 mAh larger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, or an increase of around 8.1 percent.
This increase is in line with previous rumors that Apple is focusing on increasing battery life on the iPhone 18 Pro line, after years of prioritizing thin designs.
Heavier, but Still Comfortable to Grip
As a consequence of the larger battery, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is said to weigh around 240 grams.
For comparison:
iPhone 17 Pro Max: 233 grams
iPhone 18 Pro Max (rumor): 240 grams
This means that there is an increase in weight of around 7 grams or around 3 percent.
In everyday use, the increase is likely not too noticeable, although for some users who prioritize comfort of gripping, this change can still be felt.
In addition to weight, the thickness of the device is also rumored to have increased. Rumors say the iPhone 18 Pro Max has a thickness of around 9 mm, up from 8.75 mm in the previous generation.
The addition of about 0.25 mm is indeed small, but it shows that Apple is starting to provide more space for internal components, especially the battery.
Unlike other rumors that say the camera module will be about 2 mm thicker, Ice Universe claims that the increase in dimensions this time is more related to the use of a larger capacity battery.
There is still a difference in rumors.
Previously, the Fixed Focus Digital leaker also mentioned an increase in dimensions on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, according to the report, the main cause is a larger rear camera module, not the battery.
This difference in information shows that the final design of the iPhone 18 Pro Max is still uncertain.
Apple itself is expected to only reveal the official specifications of the device at the launch event which is expected to take place in September 2026.
Apple Rarely Reveals Battery Capacity
Unlike many Android manufacturers, Apple almost never mentions battery capacity in mAh units when introducing new iPhones.
Companies prefer to show improvements in terms of usage duration, for example "last a few hours longer" than the previous generation.
Although the rumor regarding the battery capacity is quite interesting, Apple's main focus is likely to be on improving the daily user experience.
iPhone 18 Pro Max Specifications (Rumor)
Specifications iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone 18 Pro Max (Rumor) Battery capacity 5,088 mAh 5,500 mAh Weight 233 grams 240 grams Thickness 8.75 mm 9 mm Battery improvement - Almost 10%For many users, battery life is one of the main reasons when choosing a premium smartphone. If Apple really increases the battery capacity to around 5,500 mAh, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the potential to be the iPhone with the longest battery life ever released.
In contrast, users who prioritize thin designs will likely have to accept a compromise in the form of a slightly heavier and thicker device.
This rumor indicates a change in Apple's design philosophy. For years the company has been trying to make the iPhone thinner without sacrificing performance. However, the increasing need for power for artificial intelligence (AI) features, high-refresh rate screens, more complex cameras, and more advanced modems makes battery capacity an increasingly important factor.
If Apple really chooses to increase the battery even if it has to increase the weight and thickness of the device, the move reflects a new priority that is more oriented towards the user experience than just design aesthetics.
With increasingly fierce competition from Android manufacturers who have been offering large-capacity batteries for the past few years, improved battery life could be one of the main selling points of the iPhone 18 Pro Max when it is officially introduced in September 2026.